This GIS data layer represents point coverage of seafloor sediment size and composition in Massachusetts territorial waters. The data were created by aggregating available sediment point data collected from the United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) usSEABED, version 1.0, U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 118 (Reid 2005), the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Sediment data were collected between 1884 to 2008 from a variety of published and unpublished sediment texture and other geologic data. As such, the data has a variety of different horizontal accuracies and sampling and analysis methodologies. The dataset includes relative data quality for each point. More information regarding the compiled data sources and data quality assessment is available in Ford, K.H. and S.E. Voss. 2010. Seafloor sediment composition in Massachusetts determined using point data. Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Technical Report, TR-45. 21pp. http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/publications/tr_45.pdf

Please cite the originator of the data set, the date downloaded, and the National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA, as the source of the data.

Legal Constraints

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Access Constraints: None. These data are in the public domain. GIS files are freely available for download.

Use Limitation

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Use Constraints: Public domain data from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize DMF as the source of these data. You are not permitted to use DMF’s name or to suggest that DMF endorses your project or product, without its express written consent. While efforts have been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the state of the art, DMF cannot assume liability for any damages or misrepresentation caused by any inaccuracies in the data or as a result of changes to the data caused by system transfers. The user must be aware of data conditions and bear responsibility for the appropriate use of these data with respect to possible errors, original map scale, collection methodology, currency of data, and other conditions specific to these data. Distribution Liability: Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of these data, errors and conditions originating from physical sources used to develop these data may be reflected in the data supplied. The client must be aware of data conditions and bear responsibility for the appropriate use of the information with respect to possible errors, original map scale, collection methodology, currency of data, and other conditions specific to certain data. In no event shall MADMF be liable for any damages, whether general, special, incidental or consequential damages, arising out of your use of these data. Your sole remedy for damages is to stop using the data. You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless MADMF and its employees against any claim, loss, liability or expense, including attorneys’ fees, resulting from loss of or damage to property or the injury to or death of any person arising out of the use of the data.